Coach Operator

$43,493 - $65,312/Yr

Ben Franklin Transit - Richland, WA

Full-time - Entry Level

Richland, WA

Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation

About the position

Ben Franklin Transit has been providing transportation services to Benton and Franklin counties for over 30 years. Over these years, our services have grown to ensure our community members have safe and reliable transportation services. Employees at Ben Franklin Transit enjoy working in our spacious office environment and collaborating with their colleagues and superiors in person. Our company culture and values include customer service, collaboration, diversity, fiscal accountability, innovation, sustainability, and safety. Employees and representatives of BFT are expected to uphold our values and mission. As a Coach Operator, you will operate fixed-route buses in the Benton and Franklin County service area, ensuring safe and timely transport of passengers. You will display a professional attitude and provide effective customer relations. Your essential duties will include driving vehicles over specified routes or to specified destinations, adhering to established time schedules, and complying with traffic regulations to ensure passenger safety. You will also be responsible for providing courteous and respectful behavior to passengers, responding to questions regarding fares, schedules, routes, and transfer points. In addition, you will conduct thorough visual pre-and post-trip inspections on assigned buses and equipment following Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, report malfunctions, damages, or equipment failures to management, and assist passengers, including elderly or disabled individuals, in boarding or departing the bus. You will troubleshoot enroute problems, notify dispatch regarding mechanical issues, potential safety concerns, traffic problems, road hazards, and accidents, and promote passenger safety while handling conflicts and emergencies. Completing necessary paperwork, maintaining vehicle cleanliness, and demonstrating regular and punctual attendance are also key responsibilities of this role.

Responsibilities

• Operate fixed-route buses in the Benton and Franklin County service area.
• Ensure safe and timely transport of passengers.
• Display a professional attitude and provide effective customer relations.
• Drive vehicle over specified routes or to specified destinations adhering to established time schedules.
• Comply with traffic regulations ensuring passenger safety.
• Provide courteous and respectful behavior to passengers; respond to questions regarding fares, schedules, routes, and transfer points.
• Pick up and drop off passengers at designated bus stops; collect fares, tickets, and transfers; validate passes.
• Conduct thorough visual pre-and post-trip inspections on assigned bus and equipment following DOT regulations; report malfunctions, damages, or equipment failures to management.
• Assist passengers, such as elderly or disabled individuals, in boarding or departing the bus; ensure they are properly seated; load/unload wheelchair/mobility device and secure appropriately.
• Troubleshoot enroute problems; notify dispatch regarding mechanical issues, potential safety concerns, traffic problems, road hazards, and accidents.
• Promote passenger safety and BFT's Code of Conduct; handle passenger conflicts and disruptive passengers; respond to medical emergencies; notify dispatch when assistance is needed.
• Implement Agency protocols in the event of vehicle or non-vehicle-involved accidents.
• Announce stops using public address system; keep passengers informed of delays.
• Complete paperwork including timesheets, day card, arrival and departure times, occurrence/incident reports, passenger counts, types of fares used, and log books.
• Perform special service assignments, bus bridges, fill services and acts as replacement driver; assist in training new drivers.
• Maintain cleanliness of vehicle.
• Work with and maintain confidential information.
• Demonstrate regular and punctual attendance.

Requirements

• High School diploma or G.E.D. equivalent and be 21 years of age plus five years of driving experience.
• Must possess a valid Washington State driver license.
• Must obtain and maintain a Washington State Commercial Driver License (CDL) and corresponding medical certification and endorsements, or ability to obtain within 180-days of employment.

Nice-to-haves

• Previous transit driving experience is encouraged, but not required.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Retirement savings plan (401k)
• Flexible scheduling options
• Professional development opportunities